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Safety & Trust

EquiMatch is designed with safety at its core. Here's how we keep our community safe, and what you can do to protect yourself.

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Important: EquiMatch facilitates introductions between riders and owners, but we do not independently verify all user claims. Please exercise caution and follow our safety guidelines for all arrangements.

🏇 Safety Guidelines for Riders

Before arranging a visit

  • Read the listing carefully and ensure you meet the stated experience requirements.
  • Ask specific questions about the horse's history, health, and behaviour before committing to a visit.
  • Request recent vet records and confirm insurance status.
  • Be honest about your riding ability — overstating experience is a safety risk for both you and the horse.

During your first visit

  • Always meet at the yard. Never visit a private address before meeting in a professional setting.
  • Tell a friend or family member where you're going and when you expect to return.
  • Wear appropriate protective equipment at all times, including a correctly fitted hat and body protector.
  • Do not ride a horse you feel is beyond your ability or that you're uncomfortable with.
  • Do not hand over any payment on a first visit.

Financial safety

  • Never pay any deposit or fees before meeting the horse and owner in person.
  • Ensure all financial arrangements are agreed in writing before any money changes hands.
  • Be cautious of any arrangement that requires payment before a viewing — this is a common scam.
  • Make sure you understand what costs you will be responsible for (vet, farrier, insurance etc.).

🐴 Safety Guidelines for Owners & Yards

Selecting a rider

  • Review applicant profiles carefully, including stated experience level and disciplines.
  • Ask for references from previous yards, owners or instructors.
  • Always conduct a trial ride before finalising any arrangement.
  • Ensure any rider has appropriate insurance (personal accident, public liability) before riding your horse.
  • Be honest about your horse's behaviour, quirks, and any known issues.

Protecting your horse

  • Set clear written terms before any arrangement begins.
  • Specify restrictions clearly on your listing and in your agreement — for example, no jumping, no competing.
  • Agree on expectations around vet and farrier appointments in advance.
  • Conduct a welfare check if you have any concerns about your horse during an active arrangement.

🚩 Reporting & Moderation

EquiMatch takes safety concerns seriously. You can report any listing, profile, or user that you believe is unsafe, misleading, or in breach of our community guidelines.

What to report
  • Misleading or inaccurate listings
  • Suspected scam or fraud
  • Horse welfare concerns
  • Abusive or inappropriate behaviour
What happens next
  • Our team reviews all reports
  • We may suspend listings or accounts
  • Serious cases referred where appropriate
  • We protect reporter confidentiality

You can report any listing directly from the listing page using the "Report this listing" link at the bottom of the page.

🚨 Warning Signs

Be cautious of any arrangement that includes any of the following:

❌Requests for payment before any viewing or meeting
❌Pressure to decide or pay quickly
❌Listing photos that appear stolen or generic
❌No willingness to provide vet records or references
❌Contact only via unusual channels (WhatsApp only, no yard visit offered)
❌Story seems inconsistent or keeps changing
❌Horse described very differently in person to the listing
❌Extremely cheap or too-good-to-be-true arrangements

Have a concern or need help? Contact our support team.

Contact Safety Team